DESPITE ABOLITION EFFORTS, SLAVERY PERSISTS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL, CALLING FOR UNITED ACTION TO OUTLAW ALL FORMS
Press Release
SG/SM/7649
OBV/188
DESPITE ABOLITION EFFORTS, SLAVERY PERSISTS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL, CALLING FOR UNITED ACTION TO OUTLAW ALL FORMS
20001201Message for International Day Notes New Challenges Involving Children, Sexual Exploitation, Migrant Workers, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking
This is the text of a message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the observance tomorrow (2 December) of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery:
More than fifty years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stated in its Article 4 that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. Despite the many efforts made to abolish all forms of slavery, it is not dead. It exists, and is even on the rise in some parts of the world. This is an affront to every free man and woman, indeed to all of humanity. New forms of slavery, such as sexual exploitation of children, child labour, bonded labour, serfdom, migrant labour, domestic labour, forced labour, slavery for ritual or religious purposes and trafficking pose a great challenge to all of us.
The international community has drafted treaties on slavery but many States have yet to ratify and implement the different treaties and to identify what needs to be done to eliminate slavery in all parts of the world. Surely, the time has come to unite all States behind the principle of ending slavery, so that we can end it in practice. Furthermore, there is an urgent demand for laws and action to ensure that new forms of exploitation and oppression do not take the form of slavery, and that those responsible for slavery-like practices are identified and stopped.
I am pleased to say that the international community is making progress on the subject of trafficking in human beings. Two draft protocols have been prepared to supplement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime: The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children and The Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Air and Sea. I sincerely hope these protocols will serve to renew every nations efforts in this basic struggle for human rights.
Legal instruments are only one aspect of this struggle. Just as important are the efforts that are undertaken every day, in every country plagued by slavery, by courageous individuals who have committed themselves to ending it. On this day, I salute all who serve this cause, and wish them speedy success.
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